DAY 2: BEFORE THE FALL

 PHRONESIS DEVOTIONAL

30 DAYS DEVOTIONAL WITH PREACHER SAM

September 2, 2023.

Topic: MAN BEFORE THE FALL

Bible Reading: Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25

Verse for Meditation: Genesis 1:26a KJV

And God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion…”

Yesterday we saw that man was created in God’s image, which is deeper than just an image. This image gave man a superior position above Satan. What then is this image of God?

First of all we need to understand that there is no distinct difference between the image and the likeness of God. For example in psalms 102:1, it says, “Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come to You.” You cannot use the English dictionary to explain the synonmity between cry and prayer. Same with the image and the likeness of God.

The word ‘image’ in the Hebrew text is ‘tselem’, which can be referred to as a representative figure, especially an idol; a resemblance.

The word ‘likeness’ as used in Genesis 1 is ‘demuth’ which can be used adverbially for a manner, similitude, design or resemblance of something or someone. Thus, ‘… after our likeness...’ is just providing more intensity to the image of God.

The image of God and man’s dominion was separated by a colon in the KJV Bible. And a colon can be used in some ways; to introduce clauses or phrases that describe what precedes them or to connect two sentences when the second sentence explains the first. Thus, the reason for Satan’s rebellion. Man was placed in a superior position of bearing God’s image (i.e. a representative of God on the earth), which bears God’s authority (i.e. man’s dominion to rule as god on the earth).

More theological explanation was given to ‘the image of God’ using the Latin word ‘Imago Dei’.

The meaning of Imago Dei in Genesis 1:26-27 is a matter of controversy among biblical scholars and theologians. Three views have been suggested: the substantive view of the image of God; which explains the psychological, physical or spiritual nature of man. The other is the relational view of the image of God; which explains man as having a relationship with God and his fellow men. And some, the functional view of the image of God; how humans perform. All views are right collectively, these views explain the distinct characteristics of man from all other animals (1 Cor. 15:39).

In the substantive view of the image of God, man being psychological can think analytically, communicates with a true language, has the power of choice and being rational.

In the relational view of the image of God, only man can experience faith and can worship, also man is an ethical and a moral being.

And in the functional view of the image of God, only man has a spirit, soul and body and can perform as god to subdue the earth. So we never evolved from any animal, we came from God.

Before the fall, God put man in the Garden of Eden (i.e. the place of His presence) to exercise his dominion and exhibit His image (of which one of them is the power of choice; cf. Gen. 2:15-17). But something happened. What happened? We shall find out tomorrow.

PRAYER:

DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, I’M ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR MAKING ME BEAR YOUR IMAGE AND LIVE YOUR LIFE THROUGH DOMINION ON THE EARTH.

DECLARATION:

I LIVE BY THIS CONSCIOUSNESS OF A MAN WITH AUTHORITY TO DOMINATE MY WORLD.

Bible Reading Plan: John 1:35-2:12; Romans 2; Proverbs 2